Iraq’s Sadr says 'exclude' armed groups from next government as pressure builds The cleric's call comes as Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi tries to form a government amid political divisions and US demands to curb the influence of Iran-backed actors. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hormuz clashes cloud diplomacy as US awaits Iran response US strikes and renewed exchanges in Hormuz cast doubt on the ceasefire as the Trump administration awaits Tehran’s response to a new proposal. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
US sets expectations for Iraq’s next PM to confront Iranian militias The Trump administration is cautiously sizing up Iraq’s new prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, as a potential partner in pushing back on Iranian influence. Iran
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis MENA wheat importers face food security risks as Hormuz crisis festers By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Iraqis use social media to pressure government Iraqis are making sure social networking sites can be used to mobilize the public and express opinions against political events and decisions. Iraq
Iraq tries to improve human rights through education Although the Ministry of Education and the Commission on Human Rights in Qadisiyah province are working to introduce human rights principles in schools, the project lacks much-needed support from the state. Iraq
Babil’s Jewish shrine, mosque share space The tomb of the Prophet Ezekiel, located next to a mosque in Kifl, Babil, is a site of both controversy and religious coexistence. Iraq
Iran’s new strategy in Syria Iran and its allies, such as Hezbollah, seem to be getting more involved in the Syrian civil war. Iraq
Services improve under IS in Mosul Some say there is a silver lining to the Islamic State’s takeover of Mosul in Iraq, namely an improvement in services, in an apparent attempt by the group to gain legitimacy and garner the support of Mosul residents. Iraq
Congress decides Iraqi Kurds, Sunnis aren't countries after all The annual defense bill gets a new look after backlash from Baghdad. Iraq
Iraq’s toxic partisanship continues Iraq is still hashing out its long overdue parties law, which will need ratification by the very parties it's intended to rein in. Iraq
How IS uses water as weapon of war The Islamic State's expanding control over the water resources of the Middle East will only compound the region's water crisis. Egypt
Comparing Iraq's Shiite forces to Iran's Basij While the circumstances of Iran's Basij and Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units share similarities, there were differences in the domestic politics of the countries during the formation of these groups. Iraq
Concerns rise over execution of IS militants Captured members of the Islamic State in Iraq are being executed, increasing the possibility of mass killings of civilians and destroying Iraq's future as a unitary state. Iraq
Carter: Syria 'safe zones' would be 'major combat mission' US secretary of defense tells Congress no-fly zone would be "difficult thing to contemplate"; state institutions collapse as result of war in Yemen; Obama administration rejects direct arms to Iraqi Kurdistan. Saudi Arabia
Abadi tries to balance Iraq between Iran, Turkey Under Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi government did not hide its strong ties with Iran, but with a new administration in place, Haider al-Abadi is trying to cultivate a more balanced policy toward its neighbors. Iraq